John_gordon, no so far there isn't a new formula.
But then - is there really a need for one?
Given the wide variation in records grooved radius, there is no "royal device"/Königsweg.
The user/operator/analog enthusiast ultimately has to choose the alignment he/she (it..?) prefers.
This choice should be based on the majority of the records in one's collection.
Lucky audiophiles out there with multiple tonearms at hand (Halcro?, Nandric?, Downunder?, Thuchan? ..) might go the way of using different alignments and thus serving all the different records - each with the best suitable alignment.
"My" preference is based on the majority of my collection (mostly US and british records pressed in the late 1950ies to early 1970ies - many with very short dead wax/lead out groove) my preferences in sonics (big and detailed soundstage and up-front, dynamic live-like sonic "picture") AND finally my experience that 0.8% distortion in the lead-in groove are far less sonically "obstructive" (in the negative aural sense) as they are close to the inner label.
Add to that my addiction to big symphonic music, opera and 1950/60 Jazz with many big crescendi towards the end of movements and I have yet another good reason for trying to reduce/minimize distortion in the last 2/3 of the groove.
This of course would in no way apply to a collection of 1990ies to 2010s modern audiophile records where the groove quite often doesn't even come close to IEC inner limit.
I am quite happy that we have a selection of different alignments to choose the appropriate for each collection/preference.
In any case - off now for holiday till mid-september.
Kind regards to everyone and a sunny august!
D.
But then - is there really a need for one?
Given the wide variation in records grooved radius, there is no "royal device"/Königsweg.
The user/operator/analog enthusiast ultimately has to choose the alignment he/she (it..?) prefers.
This choice should be based on the majority of the records in one's collection.
Lucky audiophiles out there with multiple tonearms at hand (Halcro?, Nandric?, Downunder?, Thuchan? ..) might go the way of using different alignments and thus serving all the different records - each with the best suitable alignment.
"My" preference is based on the majority of my collection (mostly US and british records pressed in the late 1950ies to early 1970ies - many with very short dead wax/lead out groove) my preferences in sonics (big and detailed soundstage and up-front, dynamic live-like sonic "picture") AND finally my experience that 0.8% distortion in the lead-in groove are far less sonically "obstructive" (in the negative aural sense) as they are close to the inner label.
Add to that my addiction to big symphonic music, opera and 1950/60 Jazz with many big crescendi towards the end of movements and I have yet another good reason for trying to reduce/minimize distortion in the last 2/3 of the groove.
This of course would in no way apply to a collection of 1990ies to 2010s modern audiophile records where the groove quite often doesn't even come close to IEC inner limit.
I am quite happy that we have a selection of different alignments to choose the appropriate for each collection/preference.
In any case - off now for holiday till mid-september.
Kind regards to everyone and a sunny august!
D.